Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as emptying the mind or attaining a flawless zen state. It's about learning to stay with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the busy planning mind, even that odd itch that tends to show up a few minutes into sitting.
Our group combines decades of practice across various traditions. Some arrived via academic philosophy, others through personal challenges, and a few discovered it in college and stayed. We all share a commitment to teaching meditation as a usable life skill, not a mystical pursuit.
Each guide explains concepts in a distinct way. Ravi tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Ananya draws on psychology. We've found that different approaches click with different people, so you’ll likely relate to certain teaching styles more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who've made meditation their life's work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Ravi Krishnamurthy
Lead Instructor
Ravi began meditating in 1998 following burnout in the software engineering field. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. He stands out for explaining ancient ideas with surprisingly modern analogies—he once likened the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and focuses on helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Ananya Patel
Philosophy Guide
Ananya blends her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with 15 years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while studying ancient texts and realized that theoretical understanding is meaningless without lived experience. Her approach bridges scholarly insight with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Ananya has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas approachable without oversimplification. Students say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices evolved and what they aim to achieve.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we've learned meditation benefits from being demystified. We don't promise enlightenment or claim you'll achieve perfect peace. Instead, we focus on cultivating skills to face life's inevitable challenges with greater awareness and reduced reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2025, allowing time to reflect if this approach resonates. We believe in taking time to make thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice—not something to rush into on a surge of enthusiasm.
If you’re curious about learning meditation as a practical life skill rather than a spiritual pursuit, we’d be honored to guide your exploration. The practice has subtly but profoundly transformed our lives, and we’ve seen the same for many others.